Microscopic-Level Insights into P-O-Induced Strong Electronic Coupling Over Nickel Phosphide with Efficient Benzyl Alcohol Electrooxidation.

Electrooxidation of biomass into fine chemicals coupled with energy-saving hydrogen production for a zero-carbon economy holds great promise. Advanced anode catalysts determine the cell voltage and electrocatalytic efficiency greatly, further the rational design and optimization of their active site coordination remains a challenge. Herein, a phosphorus-oxygen terminals-rich species (Ni2 P-O-300) via an anion-assisted pyrolysis strategy is reported to induce strong electronic coupling and high valence state of active nickel sites over nickel phosphide. This ultimately facilitates the rapid yet in-situ formation of high-valence nickel with a high reaction activity under electrochemical conditions, and exhibits a low potential of 1.33 V vs. RHE at 10 mA cm-2 , exceeding most of reported transition metal-based catalysts. Advanced spectroscopy, theoretical calculations, and experiments reveal that the functional P-O species can induce the favorable local bonding configurations for electronic coupling, promoting the electron transfer from Ni to P and the adsorption of benzyl alcohol (BA). Finally, the hydrogen production efficiency and kinetic constant of BA electrooxidation by Ni2 P-O-300 are increased by 9- and 2.8- fold compared with the phosphorus-oxygen terminals-deficient catalysts (Ni2 P-O-500). This provides an anion-assisted pyrolysis strategy to modulate the electronic environment of the Ni site, enabling a guideline for Ni-based energy/catalysis systems.

Effect and mechanism of freezing on the quality and structure of soymilk gel induced by different salt ions.

BACKGROUND: The increasing attention toward frozen soy-based foods has sparked interest. Variations exist in the quality and structure of soymilk gels induced by different salt ions, leading to diverse changes post-freezing. This study compared and analyzed the effects of calcium chloride (CC), magnesium chloride (MC) and calcium sulfate (CS) on the quality characteristics and protein structure changes of soymilk gels (CC-S, MC-S and CS-S) before and after freezing, and clarified the mechanisms of freezing on soymilk gel. RESULTS: The formation rate of soymilk gel is influenced by the type of salt ions. In comparison to CS and MC, soymilk gel induced by CC exhibited the fastest formation rate, highest gel hardness, lowest moisture content, and smaller gel pores. However, freezing treatment deteriorated the quality of soymilk gel induced by different salt ions, leading to a decline in textural properties (hardness and chewiness). Among these, the textual state of CC-induced soymilk gel remained optimal, exhibiting the least apparent damage and minimal cooking loss. Freezing treatments prompt a transition of soymilk gel secondary structure from ß-turns to ß-sheets, disrupting the protein's tertiary structure. Furthermore, freezing treatments also fostered the crosslinking between soymilk gel protein, increasing the content of disulfide bonds. CONCLUSION: The quality of frozen soymilk gel is influenced by the rate of gel formation induced by salt ions. After freezing, soymilk gel with faster gelation rates exhibited a greater tendency for the transformation of protein-water interactions into protein-protein interactions. They showed a higher degree of disulfide bond formation, resulting in a more tightly knit and firm frozen gel network structure with denser and more uniformly distributed pores. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Use of soybean oil to modulate the gel properties of soybean protein isolation-wheat gluten composite with or without CaCl2.

BACKGROUND: Plant protein is widely used in the study of animal protein substitutes and healthy sustainable products. The gel properties are crucial for the production of plant protein foods. Therefore, the present study investigated the use of soybean oil to modulate the gel properties of soybean protein isolation-wheat gluten composite with or without CaCl2 . RESULTS: Oil droplets filled protein network pores under the addition of soybean oil (1-2%). This resulted in an enhanced gel hardness and water holding capacity. Further addition of soybean oil (3-4%), oil droplets and some protein-oil compounds increased the distance between the protein molecule chain. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and intermolecular interaction also showed that the disulfide bond and ß-sheet ratio decreased in the gel system, which damaged the overall structure of the gel network. Compared with the addition of 0 m CaCl2 , salt ion reduced the electrostatic repulsion between proteins, and local protein cross-linking was more intense at 0.005 m CaCl2 concentration. In the present study, structural properties and rheological analysis showed that the overall strength of the gel was weakened after the addition of CaCl2 . CONCLUSION: The presence of appropriate amount of soybean oil can fill the gel pores and improve the texture properties and network structure of soy protein isolate-wheat gluten (SPI-WG) composite gel. Excessive soybean oil may hinder protein-protein interaction and adversely affect protein gel. In addition, the presence or absence of CaCl2 significantly affected the gelling properties of SPI-WG composite protein gels. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of high-pressure homogenization on Ca2+ -induced gel formation of soybean 11 S globulin.

BACKGROUND: High-pressure homogenization (HPH) is commonly used as a non-thermal processing technique for soybean and soy protein products, and the preparation of soy protein gel products often requires the synergistic effect of HPH and heat treatment. The dissociative association behavior of 11 S is the key to the protein gel formation state. In this study, therefore, 11 S thermal gels were prepared by high-pressure homogenization and co-induction (90 °C, 30 min) (adding Ca2+ to promote gel formation before heat treatment), and the effects of different high-pressure homogenization pressures (0-100 MPa) and co-treatment on the dissociative association behavior of 11 S protein, gel properties, and microstructure of 11 S gels were investigated. RESULTS: The results showed that HPH at higher pressures led to the breaking of disulfide bonds of aggregates and disrupted non-covalent interactions in protein aggregates, leading to collisions between protein aggregates and the reduction of large protein aggregates. High-pressure homogenization treatment at 60 MPa improved the gel properties of 11 S more. The HPH combined with heating changed the binary and tertiary structure of 11 S soy globulin and enhanced the hydrophobic interaction between 11 S molecules, thus improving the gel properties of 11 S. The change in intermolecular forces reflected the positive effect of HPH treatment on the formation of denser and more homogeneous protein gels. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, high-pressure homogenization combined with heating can improve the properties of 11 S gels by changing the structure of 11 S protein, providing data and theoretical support for soy protein processing and its further applications. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of polysaccharides on the rheological behaviour of soy-wheat protein aggregation and conformational changes during high-moisture extrusion.

BACKGROUND: Due to the extrusion black box effect, polysaccharides determine the formation of meat-like fibrous structures by modulating the flow behaviour and structural changes of plant proteins under high-moisture extrusion conditions. However, there is limited knowledge on the mechanism of resolution. This study simulated the rheological properties of soy protein-wheat protein under 57% moisture conditions with addition of 4% sodium alginate (SA), 2% xanthan gum (XG), and 2% maltodextrin (MD). The effect of these polysaccharides on the aggregation behaviour and conformation of raw protein during high-moisture extrusion was investigated. RESULTS: It was revealed that the three polysaccharides were effective in increasing the interaction between proteins and between proteins and water. Among them, 4% SA elicited a significantly stronger storage modulus (gelation behaviour) compared to the control. Analysis of different zones of extrudates by protein electrophoresis, particle size, and turbidity showed that SA-4% was able to form more high molecular protein aggregates (> 245 kDa) and promoted crosslinking of low molecular subunits (< 48 kDa), resulting in moderately sized protein aggregated particles. Fluorescence and ultraviolet spectra showed the transformation of protein tertiary structures in different extrusion zones, confirming that the key extrusion zone for protein conformational transformation by polysaccharides is the die-cooling zone. Furthermore, stretching of polypeptide chains and accelerated protein rearrangement facilitated the formation of more fibrillar structures. CONCLUSION: Theoretical support for polysaccharide modulation of plant protein quality in high moisture extruded products is provided by this study. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Population pharmacokinetics and dosing optimization of olanzapine in Chinese paediatric patients: Based on the impact of sex and concomitant valproate on clearance.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug used for mental disorders. There are limited studies providing sufficient pharmacokinetic data, thus the variability of concentrations of olanzapine used in Chinese paediatric patients aged 10 to 17 years remains to be evaluated. METHODS: Therapeutic drug monitoring data were collected from 151 paediatric patients aged 10 to 17 years who received olanzapine. The model was developed with a NONMEM software program. The final model validation and evaluation were assessed by bootstrap, diagnostic scatter plots, and normalized prediction distribution error (NPDE). Regimens of different dosages were simulated to reach the target concentration levels of 20 ng/ml, by using the final model with typical parameters. RESULTS: The one-compartment model was considered the best fit for the data. Typical estimates of the absorption rate constant (Ka), apparent clearance (CL/F), and apparent distribution volume (V/F) in the final model were 0.142 h-1 , 15.4 L/h, and 322 L, respectively. Sex and concomitant valproate (VPA) were included as significant predictors of olanzapine clearance, which was described by the following equation: CL/F = 15.4 × (1 + 0.546 × SEX) × (1 + 0.264 × VPA). Results of Monte-Carlo simulation suggested that male paediatric patients with concomitant VPA were advised to take no less than 15 mg per day of olanzapine orally, and in female paediatric patients with concomitant VPA, a dosing regimen of 10 mg may be sufficient to achieve the therapeutic range of olanzapine. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Our results identified concomitant valproate and sex as significant covariates in olanzapine population pharmacokinetics. Our model may be a useful tool for recommending dosage adjustments for physicians. The pharmacokinetics of olanzapine in patients aged 10 to 17 years was generally similar to that of adults and the elderly.

Development of high-internal-phase emulsions stabilized by soy protein isolate-dextran complex for the delivery of quercetin.

BACKGROUND: Protein-polysaccharide complexes have been widely used to stabilize high-internal-phase emulsion (HIPEs). However, it is still unknown whether soy protein isolate-dextran (SPI-Dex) complexes can stabilize HIPEs or what is the effect of Dex concentration on the HIPEs. Furthermore, the non-covalent interaction mechanism between SPI and Dex is also unclear. Therefore, we fabricated SPI-Dex complexes and used them to stabilize HIPEs-loaded quercetin and explore the interaction mechanism between SPI and Dex, as well as the effect of Dex concentration on the particle size, ζ-potential, microstructure, rheology, quercetin encapsulation efficiency, and gastrointestinal fate of the HIPEs. RESULTS: Spectral analysis (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy) results identified the formation of SPI-Dex complexes, and indicated that the addition of Dex changed the spatial structure of SPI, whereas thermodynamic analysis (ΔH > 0, ΔS > 0) showed that hydrophobic interactions were the main driving forces in the formation of SPI-Dex complexes. Compared with HIPEs stabilized by SPI, the SPI-Dex complex-stabilized HIPEs had smaller particles (3000.33 ± 201.22 nm), as well as higher ζ-potential (-21.73 ± 1.10 mV), apparent viscosities, modulus, and quercetin encapsulation efficiency (98.19 ± 0.14%). In addition, in vitro digestion revealed that SPI-Dex complex-stabilized HIPEs significantly reduced the release of free fatty acid and improved quercetin bioaccessibility. CONCLUSION: HIPEs stabilized by SPI-Dex complexes delayed the release of free fat acid and improved the bioaccessibility of quercetin, and may be help in designing delivery systems for bioactive substances with specific properties. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Retrospective Analysis of Steady-State Olanzapine Concentrations in Chinese Patients Using Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Effects of Valproate and Other Factors.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the serum concentrations of olanzapine in relation to age, sex, and other factors in Chinese patients aged between 10 and 90 years. METHODS: Data for 884 olanzapine patients, deposited between 2016 and 2017, were retrieved from the therapeutic drug monitoring database of the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. The effects of covariates on serum olanzapine concentration, dose-normalized concentration (C/D ratio), and normalized concentration (C/D/weight) were investigated. RESULTS: Generally, male patients had lower olanzapine concentration, C/D ratio, and C/D/weight than female patients (P < 0.001). Smoking and drinking reduced olanzapine concentration, C/D ratio, and C/D/weight (P < 0.001). Coadministration with valproate decreased olanzapine concentration, C/D ratio, and C/D/weight by about 16%, 30%, and 40%, respectively (P < 0.001). Patients younger than 60 years had higher olanzapine concentrations (P < 0.05) but lower C/D ratios and C/D/weight (P < 0.001) than patients older than 60 years. Age was correlated with olanzapine concentration (r = -0.082, P < 0.05), C/D ratio (r = 0.196, P < 0.001), and C/D/weight (r = 0.169, P < 0.001). Sample timing after dose and diagnostic factors also contributed to the olanzapine concentrations. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant influences of dosage, age, sex, valproate comedication, smoking, postdose interval, and schizophrenia (vs bipolar affective disorders) on serum olanzapine concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolism of olanzapine may be altered by several factors. Patients characterized with a combination of factors may benefit from therapeutic drug monitoring for the adjustment of olanzapine dose to minimize adverse reactions.

Effect of venlafaxine dosage, valproic acid concentration, sex, and age on steady state dose-corrected concentrations of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine: A retrospective analysis of therapeutic drug monitoring data in a Chinese population.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of diagnosis, body weight, sex, age, smoking, formulations, and concomitant drugs on steady-state dose-corrected serum concentrations (C/D) of venlafaxine (VEN) and O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) was carried out. Patients' demographic data, therapeutic regimens, and concentrations were collected. RESULTS: We included 91 verified samples from 80 patients. Females had by average 13% smaller body weight, 50% higher C/D of VEN, and VEN + ODV and 25% smaller ODV/VEN than males. Patients >60 years had by average 33-59% higher C/D levels of ODV and VEN + ODV than younger patients. The concomitant use of valproic acid caused an average 51% higher C/D of ODV and a 2.2-fold larger ODV/VEN, while clozapine was related with 40% smaller ratio of ODV/VEN and 38% lower C/D levels of ODV. Positive correlations were detected between valproic acid concentrations and the C/D of VEN and VEN + ODV. In a multiple linear regression analysis, variance in the C/D of VEN + ODV was partly attributed to the daily dose of VEN, sex, age and valproic acid concentration. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested daily dose of VEN, sex, age, and valproic acid as indicators for the C/D of VEN + ODV in Chinese patients. TDM as a valuable tool was suggested in elderly female patients and patients receiving polypharmacy.

MicroRNA-192 promotes the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through targeting RB1 and activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

BACKGROUND: The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been found in diseases and cancers, including microRNA-192 (miR-192). This study was designed to investigate the role of miR-192 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) progression. METHODS: The expression levels of miR-192 and some genes were assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The function of miR-192 was investigated through MTT, Transwell, and dual-luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: The expression of miR-192 was increased in NPC tissues, and high miR-192 expression predicted poor prognosis in NPC patients. Functionally, upregulation of miR-192 promoted NPC cell migration, invasion, and growth. Furthermore, miR-192 activated EMT and PI3K/AKT pathway to regulate NPC progression. In addition, miR-192 directly targeted RB1 and suppressed its expression in NPC. Moreover, overexpression of RB1 weakened the promoted effect of miR-192 in NPC. CONCLUSION: miR-192 promoted cell viability and metastasis in NPC through suppressing RB1 expression and activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

Ultrasound-Assisted Mild Heating Treatment Improves the Emulsifying Properties of 11S Globulins.

Ultrasonic technology is often used to modify proteins. Here, we investigated the effects of ultrasound alone or in combination with other heating methods on emulsifying properties and structure of glycinin (11S globulin). Structural alterations were assessed with Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The size distribution and zeta-potential of 11S globulin were evaluated with a particle size analyzer. An SDS-PAGE analysis showed no remarkable changes in the primary structure of 11S globulin. Ultrasound treatment disrupted the 11S globulin aggregates into small particles with uniform size, narrowed their distribution and increased their surface charge density. Fluorescent spectroscopy and second-derivative UV spectroscopy revealed that ultrasound coupled with heating induced partial unfolding of 11S globulin, increasing its flexibility and hydrophobicity. FTIR further showed that the random coil and α-helix contents were higher while ß-turn and ß-sheet contents were lower in ultrasound combined with heating group compared to the control group. Consequently, the oil-water interface entirely distributed protein and reduced the surface tension. Moreover, ultrasound combined with heating at 60 °C increased the emulsifying activity index and emulsifying stability index of 11S globulins by 6.49-folds and 2.90-folds, respectively. These findings suggest that ultrasound combined with mild heating modifies the emulsification properties of 11S globulin.

Effects of Alcohol on the Pharmacokinetics of Blonanserin and N-Deethylated Blonanserin in Healthy Chinese Subjects.

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND: Blonanserin is a novel antipsychotic drug approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in East Asia. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of alcohol on the pharmacokinetic properties of blonanserin and its metabolite N-deethyl blonanserin in healthy Chinese male subjects under fasting conditions. METHODS/PROCEDURES: The study was designed as a randomized, open-label, crossover clinical investigation in 10 male volunteers, each of whom received 2 treatments under fasted conditions: treatment A, blonanserin (8 mg) with water, and treatment B, blonanserin (8 mg) with alcohol (1 mL/kg). FINDINGS/RESULTS: The average values of areas under the curve (AUCs) and mean peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) were noticeably increased by alcohol consumption. In treatment A, average values of AUC0-24h, AUC0-∞, and Cmax were 3178 ng/h/L, 3879 ng/h/L, and 492 ng/L for blonanserin, and 1932 ng/h/L, 4208 ng/h/L, and 137 ng/L for N-deethylated blonanserin, respectively. In treatment B, AUC0-∞ and Cmax were both increased 2.4-fold for blonanserin and 1.4-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, for N-deethylated blonanserin (P < 0.05). Compared with treatment A, clearance (Clz/F) of blonanserin and N-deethylated blonanserin decreased significantly (2.4-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively) in treatment B (P < 0.05). Alcohol delayed the absorption and reduced the clearance of blonanserin, leading to a 1.8-fold increase in the time to reach Cmax (Tmax) and half life time (t1/2) (P < 0.05). IMPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol increased the bioavailability of blonanserin and N-deethyl blonanserin in healthy subjects and the marked effect of alcohol on blonanserin bioavailability should be taken into consideration in deciding dosing schedules in clinical therapy.

Preparation of the Pt/CNTs Catalyst and Its Application to the Fabrication of Hydrogenated Soybean Oil Containing a Low Content of Trans Fatty Acids Using the Solid Polymer Electrolyte Reactor.

Pt/CNTs were synthesized with an ethylene glycol reduction method, and the effects of carboxyl functionalization, ultrasonic power and the concentration of chloroplatinic acid on the catalytic activity of Pt/CNTs were investigated. The optimal performance of the Pt/CNTs catalyst was obtained when the ultrasonic power was 300 W and the concentration of chloroplatinic acid was 40 mg/mL. The durability and stability of the Pt/CNTs catalyst were considerably better compared to Pt/C, as shown by cyclic voltammetry measurement results. The trans fatty acids content of the obtained hydrogenated soybean oil (IV: 108.4 gl2/100 g oil) using Pt/CNTs as the cathode catalyst in a solid polymer electrolyte reactor was only 1.49%. The IV of hydrogenated soybean oil obtained using CNTs as carrier with Pt loading 0.1 mg/cm2 (IV: 108.4 gl2/100 g oil) was lower than carbon with a Pt loading of 0.8 mg/cm2 (IV: 109.9 gl2/100 g oil). Thus, to achive the same IV, the usage of Pt was much less when carbon nanotubes were selected as catalyst carrier compared to traditional carbon carrier. The changes of fatty acid components and the hydrogenated selectivity of octadecenoic acid were also discussed.

Pharmacokinetics of guaifenesin, pseudoephedrine and hydrocodone in a combination oral liquid formulation, administered as single and multiple doses in healthy Chinese volunteers, and comparison with data for individual compounds formulated as Antuss®.

1. A new oral liquid formulation combining guaifenesin, pseudoephedrine and hydrocodone is effective in improving the symptoms of common cold. The pharmacokinetic properties of the individual components were evaluated in a randomized, open-label, four-period study in 12 healthy Chinese volunteers following single and multiple doses. The data were compared with data for the individual ingredients in Antuss®. 2. In the single-dose period, exposure levels (AUC and Cmax) for guaifenesin, pseudoephedrine and hydrocodone increased directly as the dose of the oral liquid formulation increased from 5 to 15 mL. Only minor amounts of guaifenesin and hydrocodone were excreted in urine (∼0.10% and 4.66%, respectively). Pseudoephedrine was mainly excreted unchanged, with 44.95% of the dose excreted in urine within 24 h. After multiple dosing, there was no obvious accumulation of any drug, as assessed by AUC. When considering Cmax, there was a trend toward accumulation of hydrocodone and pseudoephedrine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine in the oral liquid formulation were similar to those in the branded preparation, Antuss®. 3. The newly developed oral liquid formulation combining guaifenesin, pseudoephedrine and hydrocodone was safe and well tolerated and might provide a reliable alternative to the branded formulation for patients with common colds.

Effect of grapefruit juice and food on the pharmacokinetics of pirfenidone in healthy Chinese volunteers: a diet-drug interaction study.

1. Ingestion of grapefruit juice and food could be factors affecting the pharmacokinetics of pirfenidone, a promising drug for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 2. A randomized, open-label, three-period crossover study was carried out in 12 healthy Chinese male volunteers who were randomized to one of the three treatments: pirfenidone tablets (0.4 g) were orally administered to fasted or fed subjects, or with grapefruit juice. The washout period was 7 d. 3. Significantly reduced maximum plasma concentration (Cmax, 5.0 5 ± 1.39 versus 10.9 0 ± 2.94 mg·L(- 1)), modestly affected area-under-the-plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time zero to 12 h post dosing (AUC0-12 h, 21.8 9 ± 6.47 versus 26.1 6 ± 7.32 mg·h·L(- 1)) and delayed time to reach Cmax (Tmax) were observed in fed group compared with fasted group. Similar effects on Cmax (5.8 2 ± 1.23 versus 10.9 0 ± 2.94 mg·L(- 1)) and AUC0-12 h (modest but not statistically significant, 24.4 4 ± 7.40 versus 26.1 6 ± 7.32 mg·h·L(- 1)) were observed for grapefruit juice compared to fasted subjects. 4. Co-administration of pirfenidone with grapefruit juice resulted in modestly reduced overall oral absorption and significantly reduced peak concentrations compared to fasting, which was similar to effect of food ingestion. No adverse events were observed in the study, but relatively dramatic reduction of peak concentrations should raise concerns for clinical efficacy and safety.

The effect of food on the pharmacokinetic properties and bioequivalence of two formulations of pitavastatin calcium in healthy Chinese male subjects.

1. Pitavastatin is an effective treatment for primary hyperlipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of food on the pharmacokinetic properties and bioequivalence of the original, branded, formulation of pitavastatin calcium and a new generic formulation in healthy Chinese male subjects under fasting and fed conditions. 2. Under fasting and fed conditions, 90% CIs of the geometric mean of generic/branded AUC0-48 h ratios were 92.2-102.4%, 93.1-104.5%, the ratios of ln(AUC0-∞) were 92.6-103.7%, 93.2-103.5%, and ln(Cmax) ratios were 90.7-110.3%, 84.7-100.8%, respectively. The generic and branded formulations were bioequivalent in terms of rate and extent of absorption under both the conditions. The average values of AUC0-48 h, AUC0-∞ and Cmax decreased noticeably following a high-fat breakfast. Values for AUC0-48 h were 87.69% and 83.7%, values for AUC0-∞ were 87.5% and 84.6%, and values for Cmax were 45.0% and 50.4% in subjects given the generic and branded preparations, respectively. The absorption of pitavastatin calcium tablets was delayed following a high-fat meal, with Tmax increasing by up to 2.43-fold. 3. Both formulations were generally well tolerated, with no serious adverse reactions reported. The newly developed generic formulation may provide a reliable alternative to the branded tablets for patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia.

Development of an immersive virtual reality head-mounted display with high performance.

To resolve the contradiction between large field of view and high resolution in immersive virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMDs), an HMD monocular optical system with a large field of view and high resolution was designed. The system was fabricated by adopting aspheric technology with CNC grinding and a high-resolution LCD as the image source. With this monocular optical system, an HMD binocular optical system with a wide-range continuously adjustable interpupillary distance was achieved in the form of partially overlapping fields of view (FOV) combined with a screw adjustment mechanism. A fast image processor-centered LCD driver circuit and an image preprocessing system were also built to address binocular vision inconsistency in the partially overlapping FOV binocular optical system. The distortions of the HMD optical system with a large field of view were measured. Meanwhile, the optical distortions in the display and the trapezoidal distortions introduced during image processing were corrected by a calibration model for reverse rotations and translations. A high-performance not-fully-transparent VR HMD device with high resolution (1920×1080) and large FOV [141.6°(H)×73.08°(V)] was developed. The full field-of-view average value of angular resolution is 18.6 pixels/degree. With the device, high-quality VR simulations can be completed under various scenarios, and the device can be utilized for simulated trainings in aeronautics, astronautics, and other fields with corresponding platforms. The developed device has positive practical significance.

Rationale, Design and Methodology of a Population-Based Ocular Study in a Suburbanization Region in Tianjin, China: The Beichen Eye Study.

PURPOSE: The urbanization of suburbs has a significant impact on ocular health, however, the effect of this phenomenon on the epidemiology of eye diseases in the sub-urbanization region of China remains unclear. In this context, the population-based Beichen Eye Study (BCES) was conducted in the Beichen District of Tianjin, China. This article aims to summarize the background, design scheme and operation process of the study. The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number was ChiCTR2000032280. METHODS: In total, 8218 participants were randomly selected by a multi-stage sampling method. After their qualification was confirmed, participants were mainly invited to a centralized clinic via telephone interviews after promotion of the study in the community. Examinations included a standardized interview, anthropometric assessment, autorefraction, ocular biometry, visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment examinations, dry eye disease (DED), intra-ocular pressure, visual field testing, gonioscopy, and imaging of anterior segment, posterior segment, fundus, and optic disc. A peripheral venous blood sample was also collected for biochemical testing. For observational purposes, a community-based type II diabetes mellitus management mode was created and assessed for its effect in preventing the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). RESULTS: Of the 8,218 residents, 7,271 were eligible for inclusion, and 5,840 (80.32%) subjects were enrolled in the BCES. Most of the participants were female (64.38%) with a median age of 63 years, and 98.23% representing Han Chinese descent. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the epidemiological characteristics of major ocular diseases and their moderators in a suburbanized region of China.

Investigation of the effect and mechanism of nanocellulose on soy protein isolate- konjac glucomannan composite hydrogel system.

To enrich the application of nanocomposite hydrogels, we introduced two types of nanocellulose (CNC, cellulose nanocrystals; CNF, cellulose nanofibers) into the soy protein isolate(SPI)- konjac glucomannan (KGM) composite hydrogel system, respectively. The similarities and differences between the two types of nanocellulose as textural improvers of composite gels were successfully explored, and a model was developed to elaborate their interaction mechanisms. Appropriate levels of CNC (1.0 %) and CNF (0.75 %) prolonged SPI denaturation within the system, exposed more buried functional groups, improved molecular interactions, and strengthened the honeycomb structural skeleton formed by KGM. The addition of CNC resulted in greater gel strength (SKC1 2708.53 g vs. Control 810.35 g), while the addition of CNF improved the elasticity (SKF0.75 1940.24 g vs. Control 405.34 g). This was mainly attributed to the reinforcement of the honeycomb-structured, water binding and trapping, and the synergistic effect of covalent (disulfide bonds) and non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds) within the gel network. However, the balance and interactions between proteins and polysaccharides were disrupted in the composite system with excessive CNF addition (≥0.75 %), which broken the stability of the honeycomb-like structure. We expect this study will draw attention on potential applications of CNC and CNF in protein-polysaccharide binary systems and facilitate the creation of novel, superior, mechanically strength-regulated nanofiber composite gels.

Soy Protein Isolate Gel Subjected to Freezing Treatment: Influence of Methylcellulose and Sodium Hexametaphosphate on Gel Stability, Texture and Structure.

Freezing affects texture and induces the loss of gel quality. This study investigated the effects of methylcellulose (MC) (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%) and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) (0.15%, 0.3%) on the gel textural and structural properties of SPI gels before and after freezing, and explores the synergistic enhancement of gel texture and the underlying mechanisms resulting from the simultaneous addition of SHMP and MC to SPI gels. It was revealed that MC improved the strength of SPI gels through its thickening properties, but it could not inhibit the reduction of SPI gels after freezing. The 0.4% MC-SPI gel exhibited the best gel strength (193.2 ± 2.4 g). SHMP inhibited gel reduction during freezing through hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions; it enhanced the freezing stability of SPI gels. The addition of 0.15% SHMP made the water-holding capacity in SPI gels reach the highest score after freezing (58.2 ± 0.32%). The synergistic effect of MC and SHMP could improve the strength and the freezing stability of SPI gels. MC facilitated the release of ionizable groups within SPI, causing negatively charged SHMP groups to aggregate on the SPI and inhibit the freezing aggregation of proteins. These results provide a strong basis for the improvement of cryogenic soy protein gel performance by SHMP and MC.